Since 1957, scientists have identified that animals lose weight when living at high altitude. Sherpas and others who reside permanently at high altitudes are also generally thinner than their sea-level counterparts. Based on this observation, there have been many studies that point to the benefits of living at high altitude as a way to reduce obesity. The reason for this sustained weight loss seems to coincide with the lack of appetite experienced at high altitude due to a reduced saturation of oxygen in the blood.
